Of the Shadows

Chapter 10: Harmless

Skinwalker. A powerful medicine man consumed by evil warped into a grotesque powerful monster. At least according to some traditions. This was a creature most natives are afraid to speak of. I remember my grandmother hushing my mother when she'd asked about them out of curiosity. "Silence, child. Do you wish to call them here? Do not mention those vile things." My grandmother had scolded my mother then spit forcefully on the ground between them. "You need to be careful where you stick your nose, Cerridwen, you might get it chopped off." My mother was named after a goddess of witches. (Pronounced keh·ruhd·wen) She hadn't looked like a goddess in that moment, rather a cowarding child about to receive a punishment, hiding shamefully behind her hair. I was young when this conversation took place in the kitchen. My Granny rarely grew angry in front of me. I knew when my grandmother used Mum's real name she was serious, so the moment made a permanent residency in my memory. It chilled me now.
Mum still held me, my head on her lap, her hand hovering ever so slightly above my cheek. I could feel the energy from her hand, buzzing warm on my flesh. She hadn't spoken clearly since she came to the realization of what the creature could be. She just sat, hummed and muttered words I couldn't understand all the while focused on my injury. It was as if her chanting was leeching the sting from it.
"My blood hurt it." I interrupted the healing session as my words struck her into silence. I wasn't sure why the word flew from my mouth as though they yearned to be heard. As soon as they left my lips something in me wished i could snatch them back. I could no longer feel the heat of Mum's hand. I turned my head to gaze up at her. She stared back at me horror gleaming in her face, green eyes brimmed with tears. She swallowed hard and gripped my shoulder tight enough I could feel bruises forming in my flesh beneath her fingertips.
"No it did not. Maura you understand? It did not." She shh-ed me with her other hand holding her pointer finger to her lips. Her eyes darted to the window and back at me. From my position I couldn't see what lay beyond the glass.
I tensed, shocked, confused, and in pain. What did Mum know? Who was listening?
"Mum?" I whimpered and grabbed her wrist in attempt to pry her off of me. She wouldn't budge. Her grip only tightened.
"Your blood is harmless, Maura, say it. You are harmless."
"I am harmless." I repeated saying anything to convince her to let go of my now throbbing shoulder. Was I though? I wondered as I heard the sizzle of the creatures flesh in the back of my mind. Mum let go of me and rubbed the back of her hand across my head in apology before she cupped my cheek and kissed my forehead. "That's my girl. Now sleep." It was a command. Her eyes cut through me like emerald shards. My mind stilled and drowsiness settled over my muscles. Whatever magic Mum had worked on me was strong and I was immersed in darkness.

Angie was waiting for me in my dream. She was beautiful... her heart shaped face, her cute pixie cut, her blushed cheeks and upturned nose. God I missed her. She put a hand on either side of my face and gazed sorrowful into my eyes. Her soft lips touched mine and my heart raced. A smile curled at the corners of my mouth as I kissed her back. She felt so real. Her skin was warm under my hands. She held me close, her hands slid down my back and rested on my hips, fingers brushing the top of my ass. Our kiss intensified heat rose in my face. She bit my lip a little too hard and I could feel it bleed. She licked the blood and her tongue began to bubble. Angie backed away from me screaming, her tounge melted out of her mouth. Her hands gripped her ears as if she were trying to muffle the sound of her own shrill wail. She then slowly peeled her face off by the ears, bright red connective tissue snapping as skin disconnected from muscle and bone. The screaming stopped. Angie's defaced body handed me the living mask it had removed. "Look beyond. Look through. See, Maura. See." I was pulled into consciousness by a pounding on the door.